Bhubaneswar to sanction 24 road projects

The projects would be taken up under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-Left Wing Extremism (PMGSY-LWE) in line with the Road Requirement Plan (RRP), initiated by the UPA government in 2009Sujit kumar bisoyi | TNN | March 10, 2016, 08:33 IST

BHUBANESWAR: The NDA government will soon sanction 24 road projects under a new scheme for Maoist-affected districts in the state, said Union minister for rural development Chaudhary Birender Singh during his meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The roads covering 375 km would be developed with Rs 657 crore, official sources said. The projects would be taken up under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-Left Wing Extremism (PMGSY-LWE) in line with the Road Requirement Plan (RRP), initiated by the UPA government in 2009.

The expenditure finance committee (EFC) has received comments from all the central ministries and it is expected to meet during the recess period of Parliament any day after March 16 where a call would be taken on these 24 projects, said an official statement quoting Singh.

Under RRP-I, the Centre sanctioned 14 road projects for Maoist-hit districts of which six projects have already been completed. Construction of 900-meter long Gurupriya bridge that will connect 151 cut-off villages of Balimela reservoir is part of RRP-I.

The Union minister also assured the chief minister to place the state's demand before the empowerment committee for upgradation of 3,000-km of roads badly damaged during Phailin that hit the state in October 2013.

Naveen also demanded early release of Rs 637.39 crore for the state under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Of the central share of Rs 2,116.80 crore for the current fiscal, the Centre has so far released only Rs 1,479.41 crore.

Among other issues, Naveen demanded inclusion of 4,035 left out unconnected habitations under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, more central aid under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and Indira Awas Yojana.

Against a sanction of Rs 141.64 crore for the state under NRLM for 2015-16, the state has so far received only Rs 60.43 crore, Naveen said, adding, to augment NRDWP Rs 250 crore is required against the current grant of Rs 78 crore.